“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,” 1 Peter 2:21 (NASB).
Often, when a new believer becomes a Christian, they think that their life will become easy. That all their problems will go away. But life is still difficult. When we think of following Christ, we think of salvation, righteousness, and holy living, but suffering is also part of following Jesus. What if, when we evangelize, we told people that to become a Christian meant that they could expect to have difficulty with the surrounding culture, that many people will hate you, that Evil will attack you, and that you will suffer for the faith? To be so brutally honest would probably not attract many people. But to live like Jesus and His disciples and His followers has throughout time meant to suffer.
As the first disciples continued the work of the Church, they met opposition constantly. All but John suffered a martyr’s death. Their lives were days of hardship. We learn about the early Church and the suffering that it endured for the cause of the gospel of Christ. We see the suffering that the Church has experienced throughout time. Even today, in many places in our world, it is difficult to follow Christ. In his letter, Peter is telling us that undeserved suffering is part of the call to follow Jesus. It is difficult work to be a good Christian who is faithfully following Christ. Yet Christ teaches us, “And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mark 8:34 (NASB).
To follow Christ is and take up ones cross is hard work, but it is good work. Ministry is hard work, but good work. When life is hard, we need to remember Christ and His suffering. His pain for our redemption. When we think of the last week of Christ’s life incarnate, we see the extreme suffering on the cross. We know He willingly suffered the painful death to pay the price for our sins. The suffering of Christ was out of the love He has for us. When we suffer for the work of Christ, for ministry, let’s remember our love for Him and let that be our encouragement.
We know that after the suffering death on the cross, came the resurrection. The glory and power of Christ Jesus.
May God Bless You,
Pastor Scott
